Alaska Airlines Welcomes Apolo Ohno to Maui

The most decorated Winter Olympian in U.S. history and winners of the "Follow Apolo to Hawaii" sweepstakes today landed on Maui aboard a specially themed aircraft to begin a five-day Hawaiian vacation with Apolo Ohno.

Ohno and the three winners from Seattle, Boise, Idaho, and Soldotna, Alaska, were greeted by Hawaii Lt. Gov. James R. "Duke" Aiona, Jr., Maui County Mayor Charmaine Tavares and the Maui Surf Groms, a local youth group hoping to make surfing an Olympic sport.

During their four-night, five-day stay at Grand Wailea, the sweepstakes winners and their guests will join Ohno for a private luau.

"What better way to celebrate the most decorated U.S. winter athlete in history than to share with his fans one of Apolo’s favorite vacation destinations," said Greg Latimer, Alaska’s managing director of brand and marketing communications. "It’s been an honor to support our hometown hero, and we wish him continued success."

The specially themed airplane features Ohno, wearing a Hawaiian lei, skating across the Boeing 737-800’s fuselage and encouraging travelers to "Follow Apolo to Hawaii." The unique design was one of two featured on Alaska’s jets before the Vancouver Games urging travelers to support the Seattle native.

Alaska Airlines offers daily flights to the Hawaiian Islands from Anchorage, Alaska; Seattle; Oakland, Sacramento and San Jose, Calif.; and Portland, Ore. This fall the carrier will add service between San Diego and Maui, and from Portland to Honolulu and Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Tickets are available for purchase at alaskaair.com or by calling 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line 1-800-392-0228).

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group , together serve more than 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. For reservations, visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: barb.johnson@alaskaair.com

SOURCE: Alaska Airlines